Accused White House dinner gunman identified as Californian teacher who once won ‘teacher of the month’

The alleged attempted assassin accused of opening fire at a White House gala attended by Donald Trump and other powerful figures is a Californian educator who was once named ‘Teacher of the Month’.

The 31-year-old, identified as Cole Allen, was employed by tutoring company C2 Education, which issued him the award in December 2024.

“Congratulations to Cole Allen from C2 Education of Torrance on being honoured as our December Teacher of the Month!” a post to the company’s Facebook page, which was still up Sunday afternoon, read.

Mr Allen was arrested at the scene of the Washington Hilton hotel shooting on Saturday, about 8.30pm (local time).

He has been charged after a Secret Service officer was shot in the chest, with authorities saying the agent’s bulletproof vest was key to his survival.

The accused gunman was taken down as he attempted to rush past a security checkpoint and was headed in the direction of the ballroom, where 2600 people were tucking into their first course at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives as he ran into that checkpoint,” DC police chief Jeffrey Carroll said.

“At this point, it does appear he is a lone actor, a lone gunman. There does not appear to be any sort of danger to the public.”

Mr Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the ballroom by the Secret Service, while guests ducked for cover under tables before being evacuated.

Mr Carroll said investigators understood the suspect was a registered guest at the hotel.

He added it was too early to speculate who he was targeting or why.

Mr Trump suggested at a press conference held shortly afterwards that the gunman was a “lone wolf whack job” who “looked pretty evil”.

He is being evaluated in hospital and police will search his home in Torrance, in Los Angeles, as well as his hotel room.

The US attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, said Mr Allen has been charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and the crime of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

The suspect will appear in federal court on Monday (local time).

Ms Pirro was in the ballroom when the man charged through the checkpoint.

“Because that checkpoint worked, there was no who was injured,” she said.

Mr Trump described the man “running from 50 yards”, saying “he was fast ... he was moving”.

“It was very impressive the way they got him,” he said.